By Evan F. Moore
Southtown Star, November 21, 2014
A coalition of community members — from low-wage workers and families, to clergy, local officials and small-business owners [including Peter Athans, business development director of Mightybytes] — gathered last week in Harvey to advocate for raising the state’s minimum wage. Similar events took place elsewhere in Illinois, hoping to garner attention as the General Assembly opened its fall session.
The gathering in Harvey on Tuesday was at the Human Development Center, which seemed appropriate because its board president, Anthony L. McCaskill, said the nonprofit is ahead of the curve in paying wages. “When we hire people here, they start off at $10 an hour,” he said. “We have to make sure people have the opportunity to pay their bills.” The minimum wage in Illinois is $8.25. ...
Supporters say now is the time for the General Assembly to go to work. About two-thirds of voters statewide indicated in an advisory referendum earlier this month that they support a minimum-wage hike. ...